Contractible level for artificial breast alignment

ABSTRACT

Mounted in a recess in the top of a horizontal elongated plate is a horizontal spirit level, the bubble of which is central when the upper face of the plate is horizontal. Slidably mounted upon the plate for extensibility relatively thereto are two tubular extension covers which are movable outward away from one another to increase the effective length of the device and movable inward toward one another to decrease its length for compactness of storage or carrying, as in a lady&#39;&#39;s purse and for protection of the spirit level from damage. The middle portion of the plate on one side thereof has a cavity therein and the two slidable extension covers are provided with a detent device which holds them together unless it is released by pressing the wall of the detent catch into the cavity to release it from the groove of the coacting detent latch. The extension covers are slotted to receive stop pins seated in the plate to limit their outward sliding and to prevent them from sliding off the plate.

United States Patent 1191 Moore et al.

[111 3,811,197 [451 May 21,1974

1 1 CONTRACTIBLE LEVEL FOR ARTIFICIAL BREAST ALIGNMENT [76] Inventors: Romayne T. Moore, 6988 Ready,

Lot 8; Lilliam E. Powelson, 21442 Audrey, both of Warren, Mich. 48091 22 Filed: Feb. 1, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 328,759

152] US. Cl. 33/374 [51] Int. Cl GOlc 9/00 [58] Field of Search 33/174 D, 374, 375, 376,

Primary Examiner-Harry N. Haroian Assistant Examiner-John W. Shepperd [5 7] ABSTRACT Mounted in a recess in the top of a horizontal elongated plate is a horizontal spirit level, the bubble of which is central when the upper face of the plate is horizontal. Slidably mounted upon the plate for extensibility relatively thereto are two tubular extension covers h sh ersmwxeblseetweriway r m 91 an: other to increase the effective length of the device and movable inward toward one another to decrease its length for compactness of storage or carrying, as in a ladys purse and for protection of the spirit level from damage. The middle portion ofthe plate on one side thereof has a cavity therein and the two slidable extension covers are provided with a detent device which holds them together unless it is released by pressing the wall of the detent catch into the cavity to release it from the groove of the coacting detent latch. The extension covers are slotted to receive stop pins seated in the plate to limit their outward sliding and to prevent them from sliding off the plate.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDIAY 21 I974 3,81 l l 9 7 FIG-5 CONTRACTIBLE LEVEL FOR ARTIFICIAL BREAST ALIGNMENT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Women who have undergone an operation for removal of a breast and who wear an artificial breast in its place are frequently subjected to embarrassment resulting from slippage of the artificial breast into misalignment with the remaining natural breast. The present invention provides a compact and effective level which is contractible to occupy the minimum of space in a ladys purse or pocket yet which is quickly and easily extended to increase its accuracy when being used to adjust the artificial breast into alignment with the natural breast, eliminating the need for a mirror.

IN THE DRAWING,

FIG. 1 is a top plan view ofa contractible level for ar- I tificial breast alignment, in its collapsed position, according to one form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the level shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the level of FIGS. 1 and 2, shown in its extended position;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the level in the extended position of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken along the line 66 in FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawing in detail, FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive show a contractible level for artificial breast alignment, generally designated 10, according to a preferred form of the invention, as consisting generally of a central leveling unit 12 and a pair of oppositely-sliding tubular extension covers 14 and 16 respectively telescoping with the central unit 12. The central unit 12 is preferably in the form of a plate 18 of substantially rectangular cross-section of suitable synthetic plastic material. The plate 18 is provided in its upper face 20 with a recess 22 of rectangular outline having pockets 24 at its opposite ends and with upstanding projections 26 in the lower forward ends of these pockets 24.

Secured in the recess 22 with its opposite ends 28 resting upon the projections 26 is a spirit level device or bubble level device, generally designated 30, consisting of a short arcuate tube 32 closed at its opposite ends 28 and containing a suitable liquid 34, such as methyl or ethyl alcohol. The liquid 34 is so inserted that it does not completely fill the tube 32 but leaves a bubble 36 (FIG. 6) which, when the upper face 20 of the plate 18 is horizontal, comes to rest between a pair of horizontally-spaced index marks 38. The tube 32 of the spirit level device 30 is composed of transparent material, such as glass or transparent plastic, and is secured in the pockets 24 by a suitable substance, such as plaster of Paris or a suitable adhesive.

The middle portion of the front face 40 of the plate 18 is provided with a rounded cavity 42 (FIGS. 4 and 6) which is of maximum depth at the forward edge 44 thereof. The lower face 46 of the plate 18 is rounded upward toward the rearward face 48 to avoid the sharp edge which would otherwise be present. Similarly, the front walls 50 of the covers 14 and 16 extend downward to a rounded bottom wall 52 which in turn extends upward to a rearward wall 54. The walls 50, 52 and 54 and the top wall 56 of each cover 14 or 16 are so configured and dimensioned as to telescope smoothly with the central plate 18. The front walls 50 are provided with elongated horizontal slots 58 through which project stop pins 60 seated in the central plate 18 for preventing the covers 14 and 16 from being separated from the central plate 18.

Secured to and projecting outward from the forward edge 62 of the cover 14 is a detent catch 64 with a beveled forward face 65. The catch 64 cooperates with a groved detent latch or tongue 66 projecting toward the catch 64 from the forward edge 68 of the cover 16, and having a recess 70 aligned with the catch 64 to releasably engage the latter. The tongue 66 and catch 64 collectively comprise a detent, generally designated 72.

In the use of the level 10, to contract it for transportation or storage thereof, the two covers 14 and 16 are pushed toward one another until the detent latch or tongue 66 engages and moves over the catch 64, depressing the catch 64 and the adjacent portion of the front wall 50 at the forward edge 62 of the cover 14 into the cavity 42. This permits yielding of the projecting catch 64 so that its beveled face can be pushed under the leading edge 74 of the detent or tongue 66 and enter the groove thereof. To expand the level 10 and extend the covers 14 and 16 thereof, the user presses downward on the front wall 50 of the cover 14 immediately adjacent the detent catch 64 so as to temporarily deform the forward edge 62 into the cavity 44 and thereby lower the projecting catch 64 out of the groove 70 in the detent latch or tongue 66. At the same time, the user pulls the covers 14 and 16 outward away from one another until both assume their extended positions (FIG. 4) with the stop pins 60 at the inner end of their respective slots 58. The user then aligns the level 10 with her natural and artificalbreasts, moving the latter and the level 10 until the bubble 36 comes to rest between the two index marks 38 of the level device 30, whereupon the now horizontal upper walls 56 of the covers 14 and 16 serve to enable the user to perform the leveling or aligning action, adjusting the artificial breast upward or downward as may be necessary.

We claim:

1. A contractible level for artificial breast alignment comprising w an elongated horizontal plate with substantially parallel upper and lower faces having in its upper peripheral portion an elongated horizontal recess disposed parallel to said upper face,

a horizontal spirit level mounted in said recess parallel to said upper face and having a liquid-filled receptacle with a bubble therein and responsive to the tilting of said upper face into a horizontal plane for moving said bubble to a predetermined levelindicating position in said receptacle,

and a tublar cover structure slidably mounted on said plate in telescoping relationship therewith into and out overlying relationship with said spirit level,

said cover structure including a pair of tubular covers slidable on said plate in opposite directions toward and away from one another and from said spirit level.

2. A contractible level, according to claim 1, wherein a separable detent device releasably interconnects said covers with one another.

3. A contractible level, according to claim 2, wherein said detent device includes a catch member mounted on one of said covers and a coacting latch member said recess has pockets at its opposite ends facing toward one another and wherein the opposite ends of said spirit level are secured in said pockets.

6. A contractible level, according to claim 1, wherein the upper portions of said plate and said cover structure are of mating approximately rectangular crosssections and wherein the lower portions of said plate and of said cover structure are rounded. a: 

1. A contractible level for artificial breast alignment comprising an elongated horizontal plate with substantially parallel upper and lower faces having in its upper peripheral portion an elongated horizontal recess disposed parallel to said upper face, a horizontal spirit level mounted in said recess parallel to said upper face and having a liquid-filled receptacle with a bubble therein and responsive to the tilting of said upper face into a horizontal plane for moving said bubble to a predetermined level-indicating position in said receptacle, and a tublar cover structure slidably mounted on said plate in telescoping relationship therewith into and out overlying relationship with said spirit level, said cover structure including a pair of tubular covers slidable on said plate in opposite directions toward and away from one another and from said spirit level.
 2. A contractible level, according to claim 1, wherein a separable detent device releasably interconnects Said covers with one another.
 3. A contractible level, according to claim 2, wherein said detent device includes a catch member mounted on one of said covers and a coacting latch member mounted on the other of said covers in alignment with said catch member.
 4. A contractible level, according to claim 3, wherein said plate has a cavity therein disposed beneath said catch member in the contracted condition of said level and wherein the wall of said cover possessing said catch member is of flexible material adapted to be pushed inward into said cavity whereby to releasably separate said catch member from said latch member.
 5. A contractible level, according to claim 1, wherein said recess has pockets at its opposite ends facing toward one another and wherein the opposite ends of said spirit level are secured in said pockets.
 6. A contractible level, according to claim 1, wherein the upper portions of said plate and said cover structure are of mating approximately rectangular cross-sections and wherein the lower portions of said plate and of said cover structure are rounded. 